- Sergio Aguero broke the deadlock with a delightful chip after a superb long ball from Ederson set up the move
- Manchester City had a second five minutes later when Gabriel Jesus’ strike beat Ben Hamer in the Terriers’ net
- The hosts extended their lead before the break after a mistake from Hamer allowed Aguero to get his second
- Jon Stankovic pulled one back before David Silva restored City’s three-goal cushion with a superb free-kick
- Aguero secured his hat-trick before being subbed off on a fantastic day for the reigning champions
- Leroy Sane proved to be too much for the tired defence as his shot was deflected in off Terence Kongolo
For all the changes at Manchester City, some things really do stay the same. Like the brilliance of David Silva and the ruthlessness of Sergio Aguero.
At the end of a week in which City again broke new ground with their acclaimed All or Nothing documentary series, it was the two old favourites who led a merciless rout of Huddersfield at the Etihad.
Silva was sublime. Even at the age of 32 and with an international career behind him, the Spaniard remains a mercurial presence in this star-studded team.
He, above all others, will give Pep Guardiola reassurance that Kevin De Bruyne’s three-month absence with a knee injury will not impact the Premier League champions too badly. That was never more evident than in the 48th minute when he stepped into the Belgian’s shoes to score with a wonderful freekick, having spent the first half picking Huddersfield apart.
Aguero was just as devastating in his own clinical way, scoring the ninth Premier League hat-trick of his City career. Only Alan Shearer, on 11, has scored more.
No wonder they were first two players summoned to the bench by Guardiola when he began to make substitutions, both to a standing ovation. For all the talent at his disposal (he was able to rest Raheem Sterling, Riyard Mahrez and Kyle Walker on the bench here despite De Bruyne’s absence), the City boss knows just how crucial these two still are.
You had to sympathise with Huddersfield. They had come in search of a repeat of the goalless draw here in May when they became the only team to stop City scoring at the Etihad in the Premier League last season.
It was, in fact, the fourth time that City had failed to score at home in the league since a 10-1 win over Huddersfield in November 1987. Paul Stewart, David White and Tony Adcock, the three hat-trick scorers from that day, appeared on the pitch before kick-off and a repeat of that scoreline became a distinct possibility as Guardiola’s side raced into a three-goal lead after little more than half an hour.
There were plenty of warning signs before then as Huddersfield found themselves sunder the cosh from the very start. Steve Mounie tried to clear off the line in the second minute but miscued so badly that the ball rebounded onto his own bar. From the resulting corner, Silva picked out Gabriel Jesus one on one with Ben Hamer, but the Huddersfield keeper made an excellent block.
Silva was quite outstanding as City probed for an opening. He tormented Alex Pritchard on the right in the fifth minute before finding Gabriel Jesus again, but the Brazilian’s touch let him down as Hamer snatched the ball off him. Another exquisite pass sought out Aguero’s run into the box but he couldn’t quite keep his header on target.
It was ironic that City’s breakthrough came from Huddersfield’s first effort on goal, and foray over the halfway line, in the 24th minute. The ball was knocked forward for Mounie who held it up and laid a pass back for Jon Stankovic who curled his effort over the bar.
Maybe Huddersfield lost their bearings momentarily because what happened next can’t have been planned. Christopher Schindler was left one-on-one with Aguero and Ederson fired a pin-point goal kick upfield. Even the goalkeeper makes assist at City.
Silva was quite outstanding as City probed for an opening. He tormented Alex Pritchard on the right in the fifth minute before finding Gabriel Jesus again, but the Brazilian’s touch let him down as Hamer snatched the ball off him. Another exquisite pass sought out Aguero’s run into the box but he couldn’t quite keep his header on target.
It was ironic that City’s breakthrough came from Huddersfield’s first effort on goal, and foray over the halfway line, in the 24th minute. The ball was knocked forward for Mounie who held it up and laid a pass back for Jon Stankovic who curled his effort over the bar.
Maybe Huddersfield lost their bearings momentarily because what happened next can’t have been planned. Christopher Schindler was left one-on-one with Aguero and Ederson fired a pin-point goal kick upfield. Even the goalkeeper makes assist at City.
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